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Topic Lecturer:
Christopher J . Gamblin
Director, Technical Services
ASNT LEVEL III No. 176360

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Discussion Scope
LT Method and BLT Technique
application for those employees
that are not needing certification to
a code and standard.
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(d) Examination before shipping. (1) No person may
offer for transportation a tank car containing a
hazardous material or a residue of a hazardous
material unless that person determines that the tank
car is in proper condition and safe for transportation.
As a minimum, each person offering a tank car for
transportation must perform an external visual
inspection that includes:
CFR 173.31 (d)
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Divided into three main categories by American
Society of Non-Destructive Testing.
Leak Detection,
Leak Location,
Leak Measurement

Bubble Leak Testing is an example of both Leak
Detection, and Leak Location.
Leak Testing Methods
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Three common LT techniques for tank car
inspection:
Bubble leak testing liquid film (BLT)
Chemical Reactivity (CRLT)
Pressure change or Pressure Decay

Three Techniques of LT
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LT is a form of NDT that uses either a pressurized or
evacuated system to detect the location of leak and
possibly measure the leakage through the leak.

LT when compared to other methods, either surface
(MT, PT) or Volumetric (UT, RT), has a higher
degree of sensitivity to locate the leak or measure
leakage.
Leak Testing
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Leak;
Physical hole that exists and not the quantity of fluid
passing through.

Leakage:
The flow of fluid through a leak without regard to
physical size of the hole through which flow occurs.
Leak Testing Definitions
Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
Term leak tight is relative. Nothing is truly leak tight
and different terms should be used.
Terms no detectable leakage, no leakage, or zero
leakage truly represent the desired condition before
shipping a tank car.
Everything leaks, absolute tightness is only
theoretical in practice. Nothing made by humans can
truly be absolute leak tight.
Leak Tight
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Leak Path
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LT techniques are measured in leak rates. The
smaller the leak rate detected, the higher the
sensitivity.
Examples of minimum detectable leak rates:
Leak Rates/Sensitivity
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Ultrasonic Leak Detector 10
-1
std cm
3
per second
Bubble Leak 10
-3
std cm
3
per second

Mass Spectrometer detector
probe
10
-5
std cm
3
per second

Radioactive Isotope 10
-8
std cm
3
per second

Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
Quantity (mass) of a gas leaking in one second.
Volume equal to three dimes stacked vertically.
1 std cm
3
per second
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10
-2
10 seconds
10
-3
100 seconds
10
-5
3 hours
10
-8
1 year
10
-12
3000 years
Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
(Economic) To prevent material loss that interferes
with system operation.

(Safety) Prevent fire, explosion, and environmental
contamination.

(Reliability) Detect unreliable components, and
those with leakage rates that exceed standards.
Reasons for Leak Testing
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LT is an important process to the measure the
reliability of the system under test.

LT can show a fundamental fault of the system.
High leakage rates in specific areas may determine:
Gasket improperly aligned
Valve connections misaligned or improperly threaded
System Reliability
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LT is not a direct measurement of continuing system
reliability, only a measurement of the reliability at the
time of testing.

Primary use of LT for railroad tank car industry is to
detect installation errors.
System Reliability
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LT sensitivity depends heavily on the skill level and
alertness of the LT operator.

LT operators must be trained in the fundamentals of
LT to ensure they are performing a LT correctly
each time.

Common errors:
Operators do not look at test joint for an acceptable
period of time
not identify all possible leak paths
LT Operator Training
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Training plans for LT operator personnel should
include:
Disadvantages and advantages of LT methods
Identify hazards with LT
Enhancing testing environments
Techniques for improving inspection skills
Factors affecting LT measurement accuracy
Proper ways to carry out and conduct LT methods
LT Operator Training
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Leak Testing technique must be of proper sensitivity
for scope of test, and also be economical value for
the technique to be desirable for application.

Bubble Leak testing accomplishes both of these
criteria, and represents most of the LT performed in
the RR Tank Car Tank industry.
Bubble Leak Testing
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Three techniques classified by the how the liquid
used for detection is applied:

Liquid Immersion
Liquid Film
Foam application
Bubble Leak Testing
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Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
Simple to use, rapid application, and inexpensive
Sensitivity is acceptable for use with tank car tanks
Enables the observer to locate the exit point of leaks
very accurately (compared to Pressure Change
Test)
Very large leaks and small leaks can be detected,
offers a wide range of detection unlike some other
techniques.
BLT Advantages
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BLT allows observer to distinguish real leaks from
virtual leaks.

Virtual Leaks are those in which trapped gases are
escaped during a test and are observed.

Safe to apply BLT with proper inert gases, and
testing liquids, in combustible areas.
BLT Advantages
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Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
When performing BLT, or any LT technique beyond
its limitations, it renders the test inaccurate and the
results dangerously false.

LT
BLT Limitations
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Certain conditions interfere with BLT, and must be
corrected prior to testing.
Contamination of test specimen
Improper test temperatures
Contaminated Leak Test solutions
Prior contaminates that clog leaks or leak paths
Air dissolved in test liquids, or out gassing from
connections. Virtual Leaks
BLT Limitations
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Importance of cleaning test surface

Cleaning a tank car connection prior to performing a
LT should include as a guideline:
Remove by safe means any sings of rust, grease,
oxide films, or other visible surface contaminants.
BLT Limitations
Surface Cleaning
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Non-technical applications of LT can cause ordinary
soap and water combination to be used.

While economical, these testing solutions diminish
the sensitivity of the test, possibly causing them to
be lower than 10
1
std cm
3
per second.

Example: Dishwashing soap and water
Commercial vs Homemade
BLT Solutions
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Limitations of Common Soap for BLT
Soaps form sticky, gummy deposits that can clog
leaks. Bath tub ring
Soaps are alkaline; pH values of 10.5 to 11.5. Can
cause severe corrosion to Aluminum Alloys.
Soaps contain chlorides and borates. These can
cause stress corrosion cracking on stainless steels or
titanium alloys. Many valves are SS or
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Ti.
Commercial vs Homemade
BLT Solutions
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Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
Commercial BLT solutions are favorable over soap
and water when compared:
Have pH between 6-8
Do not form deposits when mixed with hard water
Viscosity allows low surface tension, allows BLT
solution to spread over surface
Stabilized solutions are resistant to bacteria and
maintain sensitivity over long periods of time
Allow BLT solution to dry to a clean state
Temperature range -30F to over 150F
Commercial vs Homemade
BLT Solutions
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Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
Commercial vs Homemade
BLT Solutions
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Commercial vs Homemade
BLT Solutions
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Commercial vs Homemade
BLT Solutions
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First and foremost, safety is key in working with
loaded tank cars or any pressurized vessel.
Along with tank car shipping location safety
standards, LT safety briefings should include these
topics:
Working with pressurized vessels
Hazards with going on top of, or below tank car.
Process Steps for BLT
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Clean areas of interest to BLT. Remove dirt, slag,
rust, or any foreign debris.

Consideration of the cleaning chemical must be
taken in consideration for compatibility with BLT
solution.
Process Steps for BLT
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Create pressure differential. Creating a high
pressure side, and lower pressure side will start
leakage to flow.

General guidelines state that a minimum of 15 psig
(210 kpa) be used as a starting pressure.
Process Steps for BLT
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Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
Temperature should be checked prior to applying
the BLT solution.

Use IR or contact thermometers. Must be between
temp limits of BLT solution.
Process Steps for BLT
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Apply BLT solution.
Flow solution over test area, not creating bubbles in
the process
Do not brush or spray unless LT solution is designed
for such application!
Gently flowing solution over area will allow complete
coverage. Care should be taken to observe the
solution as it is applied.
Process Steps for BLT
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Allow BLT solution to Dwell on the test area for a
specific amount of time.
Usual Dwell times are 5min -10min

After Dwell time has elapsed, inspect area for
bubble formation
Process Steps for BLT
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Inspection should be done in a adequate
environment to get the best results for the test.
Improve the environment to increase the sensitivity
of the test:
Increase lighting
Better position to keep view angle at 0-15
If possible, improve temperature, wind, humidity
Use BLT solutions that have higher visibility
Process Steps for BLT
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Test joint must show no bubble formation to be
considered to pass the leak test

BLT will show bubbles collapsing and reforming to
indicate a leak
Inspection
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LT procedure should be written by an ASNT Level III
Allows for uniform application by all LT operators
Specifies the minimum requirements for conducting
a test
A procedure should list all aspects of the LT that are
essential to be met
Can provide reasonable certainty that a specific
sensitivity is being met
LT Procedure
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Procedures should include:
Cleaning requirements
LT solution
Temperature limits
Test Pressure
Acceptable leak rates (Acceptance Criteria)
Reporting of a leak
Cleaning practice
LT Procedures
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Source: ASNT NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition. Volume 1; Leak Testing
CONTACT INFO
Christopher Gamblin:
Watco Compliance Services, LLC

EMAIL: cgamblin@watoccompanies.com
PHONE:713-703-5123

THANK YOU!
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